Blueberry Plant named &#39;C95-12&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of blueberry ( Vaccinium hybrid ) plant named ‘C95-12’, characterized by its combination of upright to bushy plant shape and strong plant growth vigor, evergreen foliage with medium to late timing of vegetative bud burst, lateness of flowering and fruiting, large berry size with oblate shape, medium to firm fruit suited to handling, attractive dark blue fruit color and small picking scar, strong berry sweetness with medium acidity. This combination results in higher quality fruit with a later availability than other varieties.

LATIN NAME OF GENUS AND SPECIES OF PLANT CLAIMED

Vaccinium hybrid

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘C95=12’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct perennial variety of Vaccinium hybrid (Southern Highbush Blueberry), which has been given the variety denomination of ‘C95-12’. Its market class is that of a fruiting plant. ‘C95-12’ is intended for use as fresh fruit for shipping, customer pick and processing markets and as a home garden plant.

The new blueberry cultivar is a selection resulting from seedlings produced in a controlled breeding programme of Vaccinium at Gainesville, Fla., USA in 1993 from a cross of seed parent “F93-29” (unpatented) and pollen parent “F84-35” (unpatented). The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single plant within a population of blueberry plants in 1995, in a commercial field plantation environment at Corindi Beach, New South Wales, Australia. Selection criteria was a combination of strong plant growth vigor, lateness of ripening, good fruit flavor, large fruit size, firm fruit suited to handling, attractive dark blue fruit color and small picking scar. The selection was subsequently evaluated for a number of years at the commercial farms of BerryExchange at Corindi Beach, New South Wales, Australia.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by cutting propagation since 1995 at Corindi Beach, New South Wales, Australia and has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

The new variety has been primarily compared to the variety ‘Southern Belle’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,931). In Corindi Beach, New South Wales, Australia the plant growth habit of ‘C95-12’ is ‘upright to bushy’ whereas the plant growth habit of ‘Southern Belle’ is ‘upright’. The plant growth vigor of ‘C95-12’ is ‘strong to very strong’ whereas the plant growth vigor of ‘Southern Belle’ is ‘weak to medium’. The time of vegetative bud burst of ‘C95-12’ is ‘medium to late’ whereas the time of vegetative bud burst of ‘Southern Belle’ is ‘late’. The leaf length of ‘C95-12’ is ‘medium’ (48-52 mm) whereas the leaf length of ‘Southern Belle’ is ‘medium to long’ (mean 57 mm). The leaf width of ‘C95-12’ is ‘broad’ (32-36 mm) whereas the leaf width of ‘Southern Belle’ is ‘medium’ (mean 28 mm). The leaf attitude of ‘C95-12’ is ‘horizontal’ whereas the leaf attitude of ‘Southern Belle’ is ‘acute’. Corolla ridges are ‘absent’ on flowers of ‘C95-12’ whereas corolla ridges are ‘present’ on flowers of ‘Southern Belle’. The time of beginning of flowering of ‘C95-12’ is ‘late to very late’ whereas the time of beginning of flowering of ‘Southern Belle’ is ‘late’. The time of fruit ripening of ‘C95-12’ is ‘late to very late’ whereas the time of fruit ripening of ‘Southern Belle’ is ‘late’. Berry cluster density on ‘C95-12’ is classified as ‘dense’ whereas berry cluster density on ‘Southern Belle’ is classified as ‘medium’. The depth of the calyx basin on a berry of ‘C95-12’ is ‘shallow’ whereas the depth of the calyx basin on a berry of ‘Southern Belle’ is ‘medium’. The diameter of the calyx basin on a berry of ‘C95-12’ is ‘very broad’ (mean 9.1 mm) whereas the diameter of the calyx basin on a berry of ‘Southern Belle’ is ‘medium’ (mean 4.9 mm). The sweetness of a berry of ‘C95-12’ is classified as ‘strong’ whereas the sweetness of a berry of ‘Southern Belle’ is classified as ‘weak’. The acidity of a berry of ‘C95-12’ is classified as ‘medium’ whereas the acidity of a berry of ‘Southern Belle’ is classified as ‘weak’. This combination of fruiting attributes results in ‘C95-12’ being a more suitable variety for commercial and home garden use than ‘Southern Belle’.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘C95-12’ as a new and distinct cultivar of blueberry plant:

-   1. Upright to bushy plant growth habit -   2. Strong plant growth vigor -   3. Medium to late timing of vegetative bud burst -   4. Late to very late timing of beginning of flowering -   5. Late to very late timing of fruit ripening -   6. Dark blue berry color -   7. Berry firmness is medium to firm -   8. Picking scar is dry -   9. Berry Diameter is large -   10. Berry shape is longitudinal cross-section is oblate -   11. Berry sweetness is strong -   12. Berry acidity is medium     Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the parents     primarily in late to very late timing of beginning of flowering,     late to very late timing of berry ripening, large berry diameter,     and strong plant vigor, whereas the seed parent is mid-season in     timing of flowering and berry ripening, with medium berry diameter,     and the pollen parent is medium season in timing of flowering and     berry ripening and medium plant growth vigor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘C95-12’.

FIG. 1 illustrates a ‘C95-12’ plant in a commercial field planting.

FIG. 2 illustrates ‘C95-12’ leaf and berry shapes and dimensions.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed botanical description of a new and distinct variety of a Vaccinium hybrid ornamental plant known as ‘C95-12’. Plant observations were made on plants grown in Corindi Beach, New South Wales, Australia. Unless indicated otherwise, the descriptions disclosed herein are based upon observations made from August to October 2007 of mature ‘C95-12’ plants (age 4 years) grown in outdoor field plantings with day temperatures ranging from 21° C. to 23° C., night temperatures ranging from 10° C. to 12° C., and light levels ranging from 6 to 8 klux. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or, conversely, younger plants. ‘C95-12’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety may vary with variations in the environment such as season, temperature, light quality, light intensity, day length, cultural conditions and the like. Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Color Chart, of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, 2007 edition.

-   Botanical classification: Vaccinium hybrid cultivar C95-12. -   Parentage:     -   -   Parents.—seed parent “F93-29” (unpatented) and pollen parent             “F 84-35” (unpatented). -   Plant:     -   -   Growth habit.—plants are upright to bushy. Growth vigor is             strong. Plant height is 1.9m. Plant width is 1.2m. Flower             bud density is medium. Twigginess is low. Time of beginning             of leaf bud burst is medium to late (early August) when             grown as an evergreen in Australia. Time of beginning of             flowering is late to very late (mid September) when grown as             an evergreen in Australia. Time of fruit ripening is late to             very late (late October) when grown as an evergreen in             Australia. -   Stem:     -   -   Suckering tendency.—Plants typically have 5-7 major canes             per plant from a base 30 cm in diameter on 6 year old             plants.         -   Canes.—erect to semi-erect with moderate branching; color             greyed orange 198C; 2 year old cane diameter 12 mm, colored             greyed orange 177B, some flaking of bark, current season             wood diameter 3-4 mm, colored yellow green 144C Internode             length on strong, new shoots 15-20 mm         -   Fruiting wood.—numerous twigs to 10 cm in length.         -   Surface texture of new wood.—smooth. -   Fully developed leaf: Length medium 48-52 mm Width broad     approximately 32-36 mm Shape elliptic Color yellow green 137A     Intensity of color medium Margin entire Undulation of margin absent     or very weak Pubescence of upper side absent Pubescence of lower     side absent Cross sectional profile flat Longitudinal profile     straight Attitude horizontal. -   Inflorescence: Length of peduncle to 12 mm Length of pedicel medium     5-7 mm Number of flowers per cluster median 7 Flower cluster density     is medium-dense. -   Flowers: Length of corolla tube short to medium (to 10 mm) Width of     corolla tube narrow to medium (to 9 mm) Corolla aperture diameter 4     mm Color of corolla white 155D Anthocyanin coloration of absent or     very weak Corolla ridges absent Protrusion of stigma absent     Fragrance weak Shape urceolate Abundance of pollen high Calyx (with     sepals) diameter 5-6 mm Calyx color green 138A.     -   -   Productivity.—3 to 4 kg per season from 3-4 year old plants             planted at 3.0 m×0.9 m density.         -   Cold hardiness.—C95-12 has not been grown in all             environments including harsh winter environments. Cold             tolerance is expected to be low. Plants have survived winter             freeze in Australia to minus 8° C. with minimal winter             dieback of young shoots and resultant loss of fruit and             flowers, and poor growth vigor.         -   Chilling requirement.—C95-12 has not been grown in all             environments and is typically grown as an evergreen crop             where chilling hours are not important. C95-12 is classed as             ‘low chill’, typical of Southern Highbush Blueberry             varieties with an estimated chilling requirement of 250             hours (not tested).         -   Leafing.—plants retain leaves year round (at Corindi beach,             NSW Australia) and C95-12 is grown commercially as an             evergreen crop. New leafing occurs in mid August at Corindi             beach, NSW Australia. -   Fruit: Unripe fruit color intensity medium Unripe fruit color 144A     Cluster density is dense Diameter is large (mean 19.4 mm) Weight     medium-heavy (approximately 3.0 g) Shape oblate Attitude of calyx     erect Diameter of calyx basin very broad (mean 9.1 mm) Depth of     calyx basin is shallow (to 1.0 mm) Intensity of bloom strong     Intensity of blue color of skin with bloom removed is dark Color of     skin 202A Sweetness when ripe strong Firmness when ripe medium to     firm Acidity when ripe medium Size of scar is small (1.0-1.5 mm)     Storage quality good.     -   -   Date of 50% maturity.—approximately 30^(th) October at             Corindi beach, NSW Australia.         -   Fruit development period.—approximately 55 days in protected             cultivation at Corindi beach, NSW Australia. -   Seed: Seed color greyed orange 165B Seed abundance in fruit medium     Seed size 1.6-1.8 mm long for fully developed seeds. -   Tolerance to disease: C95-12 has shown moderate resistance to root     disease (phytophthora spp) and good resistance to blueberry rust     compared to the commercial variety ‘Southern Belle. Also     demonstrates moderate to low resistance to the fruit disease     Anthracnose (Colletotrichum gleosporoides). 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of blueberry plant named ‘C95-12’, substantially as herein shown and described. 